Spike Lee film joins the line up

The UK premiere of Spike Lee's film MIRACLE AT ST ANNA has been added to the festival programme, it's been announced.

Adapted by James McBride from his own novel, it tells the story of black servicemens' experiences during World War II. Stationed in Tuscany in 1944, Staff Sergeant Stamps (Derek Luke), Sergeant Bishop Cummings (Michael Ealy), radio operator Hector Negron (Laz Alonso) and Sam Train (Omar Benson Miller) are members of the all-black 92nd Division Buffalo Soldiers who find themselves trapped behind enemy lines.

Also added to the programme is the UK premiere of writer-director Jesús Ponce’s LAZY DAYS (DEJATE CAER) a story which follows the lives of three slackers who spend their days sitting on a bench in a Seville suburb where they pass time drinking beer and commenting on the activities of the neighbourhood.

Public booking for the festival opens this Saturday (27th September) and tickets can be booked either online at www.bfi.org.uk/lff or by phone on (0207) 928 3232.

We say get in fast, tickets are going to be snapped up!

Cannes had Indy - we get Bond!

QUANTUM OF SOLACE will be one of the centrepieces of this years film festival, it's been revealed, as Artistic Director, Sandra Hebron, announced the programme for the event.

The first public screening of the film will immediately follow the world Premiere, which is being attended by Princes Charles and Harry.

There will be 12 other gala presentations sitting alongside films from some of the world's hottest new talents. Veterans Oliver Stone and Woody Allen will be premiering their latest works, W and VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA respectively whilst Rian Johnson will be following up his award-winning debut BRICK, with THE BROTHERS BLOOM, starring Rachel Weisz and Adrian Brody.

There will be free film screenings in Trafalgar Square, career talks from Michael Sheen, Danny Boyle and Robert Carlisle and a host of A-list stars are already down to attend the festival including Eva Green, Gwyneth Paltrow, Colin Firth, Jessica Biel, Omar Sharif, Penelope Cruz and Liam Neeson.

Dismissing criticisms raised at the Venice Film Festival that vintage cinema was "dead", Hebron said how she was: "delighted to be able to present such a diverse and high quality programme of films and events, with an unprecedented number of world, international and European premieres."

For the full programme and booking details visit www.bfi.org.uk/lff. Tickets go on sale from the 27th September.

Festival to sign off with new Boyle drama

The European premiere of Danny Boyle's new drama SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE will be bringing the film festival to the close, it's been announced.

Adapted for the screen by Oscar®-winning writer Simon Beaufoy (THE FULL MONTY) from Vikas Swarup's best-selling novel Q AND A, it tells the story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who finds himself just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’.

He's arrested on suspicion of cheating, and his incredible story of his life on the streets, and of the girl he loved and lost is recounted to the police. So if he has no interest in money, why is he on the show? And how does he know all the answers? When Jamal returns to answer the final question, the police and sixty million viewers are about to find out...

The film, shot in India, features Dev Patel (SKINS) alongside an all-Indian cast including Anil Kapoor and Madhur Mittal. Danny Boyle will also be giving an interview about his career as part of the Tiscali Screen Talks series.

Says Boyle: "I hope that Londoners will respond to this story about another great megatropolis - Mumbai, 'the Maximum City'."

After it's festival premiere, the film will be distributed in the UK in early 2009.

World premiere of "Frost/Nixon" to kick off 52nd festival

The London Film Festival has announced that FROST/NIXON, the drama based on the legendary interviews between disgraced former US President Richard Nixon and the broadcaster David Frost, will open this year's proceedings on Wednesday 15th October 2008.

Directed and produced by Ron Howard, and adapted from his own stage play by Peter Morgan, the film stars Frank Langella (GOODNIGHT AND GOOD LUCK, SUPERMAN RETURNS) as Nixon and British star Michael Sheen (THE QUEEN) as Frost. It also features Kevin Bacon, Sam Rockwell, Rebecca Hall and Matthew McFayden.

Sandra Hebron, the Festival’s Artistic Director says: “We're delighted to be opening our festival with this fascinating study of a unique moment in cultural and political life. Engrossing and entertaining by turns, and brilliantly performed, it is a film with strong London links and a perfect opener for this year's festival.”

For further information on this year's festival go to http://www.lff.org.uk/. The full festival programme is expected to be announced on the 10th September and we will post details here when it is!